PLANT OF THE MONTH: Desert Willow
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Chilopsis linearis
FAMILY: Bignoniacea (Trumpet-creeper family)
OTHER COMMON NAMES: Flowering willow, Willow-leaved Catalpa, Mimbre
Type: fast-growing, deciduous tree with average, mature height from 15-25ft. Not an actual willow, but
so named because of its willow-like leaves and supple, flexible willow-like stems.
Natural Habitat: Native to the dry streambeds, arroyos and washes of the Trans-Pecos and West
Texas and extending to California and into Mexico.
Propagation: By seed and semi-hardwood cuttings. Seeds collected from dried pods in late summer
through fall. Fresh seed germinates best, but may be stored in a cool, dry location until ready to plant.
Deer Resistance: Young seedlings should be protected from browsing. Trunks of saplings and older
trees should be protected from damaged caused by antler damage.
Wildlife: fragrant, showy flowers attract butterflies, bees and hummingbirds.
Light Tolerance: full sun
Flowers: showy, trumpet-shaped flowers present from April-September. Range of color from light
pink to purple, often with white or yellow and purple streaks within the throat.
Fruit: The slender, seedpods are long (6-10 inches) and narrow and packed with cottony seeds.
Leaves: green, thin, “willow-like” deciduous leaves.
Water Requirements: drought tolerant, once established.
Soil Moisture: Well-drained limestone soils preferred, but also does well in sands, loams, clays,
caliches, granitic, and rocky soils.
Soil Requirements: Desert Willow will tolerate poor soil, but will do better in a well-drained planting site
that has improved soil and room for root expansion.
Availability: Available in nurseries
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS: Dig hole at least 2 times wider than, but the same depth as the
root ball in the nursery container. Carefully remove tree from container, taking care not to break the root ball.
Loosen exterior roots, if root bound. Plant at the same depth as the soil in the container. Do not add any soil to
the top of the root ball. Adding a layer of 3-4 inches of mulch after planting is desirable. . Plant in full sun and
allow for upward and outward growth. Spacing should be 10 to 15 feet apart.
WATERING INSTRUCTIONS: After planting, water the plant well in order to thoroughly soak
its roots. Repeat watering a few days after planting. Water deeply every 7-10 days, checking an inch or two
into soil at edge of root ball to determine soil moisture. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Reduce
watering during the fall and winter. Once established, water monthly only during periods of drought.
OPERATION NICE! TIP: Desert Willow may be left as a bushy plant or carefully pruned into
a tree form. Some specimens may adapt a tree-like form without pruning. Plant Desert Willow instead of nonnative flowering trees such as crape myrtle, ligustrum, and mimosa. When planted as an accent tree, Desert
Willow will not only provide aesthetic value, it will enhance the natural habitat of your landscape
Care Instructions are provided by the Native Plant Society of Texas- Boerne Chapter. Our meetings begin at
7:00 pm on the first Tuesday, September-June at the Cibolo Nature Center Auditorium. Our meetings are free
and open to the public and include social time starting at 6:30 pm. Please visit our website
www.npsot.org/boerne for other suggested NICE! Plants of the Month.